“Now that we’re having a baby, I’m going to need to rethink what I say to your father when I ask for his permission to marryyou.”
Just thinking about that conversation makes me want to puke. “I don’t know what he’s going to say about my beingpregnant.”
“You’re twenty-two. What can hesay?”
“He isn’t going to care that I’m twenty-two. I’m his littlegirl.”
Tristan shakes his head. “Not anymore. You’re mygirl.”
“Try telling himthat.”
“Things are different between your father and me now. I think he’ll be okay withthis.”
“I guess we’ll find out soonenough.”
I’ve been very surprised by the turnaround of my father’s attitude toward Tristan. Every problem he had with him was based solely upon his being the son of Joseph Broussard. But now, my dad has taken on an almost father-figure-type role with Tristan. Which is great, considering that Tristan feels fatherlessnow.
“I would like to go see Conradtomorrow.”
“Thatsoon?”
“You aren’t ready to tell your family about thebaby?”
“It’s not really that I don’t want to tell them.” I pause before I continue to choose my words. “This is about us, and it’s a special time for us. I want to have a selfish moment and let it be our little secret for a little while before everyone else is privy. Is thatcrazy?”
“No, I like it being our secret for a little while. But not for too long. I’m ready to give you my name, Emma LiaBroussard.”
That’s the first time that he’s ever said it in full likethat.
“Emma Lia Broussard,” Irepeat.
“Sounds good, doesn’tit?”
I love it. “It soundsperfect.”
“We’ll need to choose something just as perfect for our little one.” I adore hearing him say ‘our littleone.’
“I’d like to choose something Acadian to keep his or her roots alive. And I love your middle name. It would be nice to have a son named Romaric Broussard afteryou.”
“I don’t know why my mother named me Tristan. It’sCeltic.”
“It’s sort of funny. You’re a Creole with a Celtic first name, and I’m Irish with a name adopted by the Acadians from theGermans.”
“I hadn’t thought of that, but Emma is a popular Acadian name. That’s why it sounds so good with Broussard. So, see? Fate decided long ago that this is ourdestiny.”
“I’m not sure that destiny ever stood a chance when you decided that you wanted me. And thisbaby.”
“You love my obsession with you. Admitit.”
“Ido.”
It’s true. I’ve always wanted to be with a man who wanted me and only me. One who would pamper me because he loved me so dearly. One that looked at me as though I was the only woman in the world. And Tristan doesthat.
Sure, some women are more concerned with maintaining their voices and being equals in a relationship, but I don’t feel as though I’ve given up anything. I’m half of this relationship. Tristan isn’t a Dom without a submissive, and I am not a submissive without him. We need one another or we’re bothincomplete.
10
Tristan Broussard
